Ahmedabad: Reigning world champion Sheetal Devi confirmed a medal for India by storming into the women’s compound individual final on the third day of the World Archery Para Series (Stage III), here on Monday.
In an all-Indian semifinal, the armless archer from Jammu defeated Sarita 145-143 to book her place in the gold medal clash, where she will face Aizada Seidan of Kazakhstan.
Sarita will also have another opportunity to add to India’s medal tally when she will take on Wang Huiting of China in the bronze medal match.
The women’s compound event thus gave India one confirmed medal and another still in the hunt, with world number one Sheetal eyeing the top podium finish.
In the compound men’s section, reigning world champion and world number one Toman Kumar lost to top seed Ken Swagumilang of Indonesia 146-144 in the semifinal and will fight for the bronze medal against Abbas Kahdim of Iraq.
Earlier, Swagumilang ended the campaign of another Indian, Gurwinder Singh, in the quarterfinals, with the Indian losing 141-143.
India’s campaign ended in the W1 men’s section after fifth seed Adil Mohamed Nazir Ansari and ninth seed Nurudin lost their respective quarterfinal matches.
Adil lost to Czechia’s multiple Paralympics-medallist David Drahoninsky 5-6 (8-10) in the shoot-off, while Nurudin went down 2-6 to top seed Yang Xupeng of China.
The women, on the other hand, kept India’s hopes alive in the W1 women’s section, with second-seeded Indian Swati Chaudhary set to fight for the bronze medal.
Swati lost to sixth seed Liu Jing of China 1-7.
Athletes classified as W1 usually have an impairment in the top and bottom halves of their bodies, torso and at least three limbs and some W1 athletes have an assistant to help them load the bow.
